Letters: Alcohol-free TV a first step toward helping recovery

The drivers of the Clydesdale-powered 1903 Studebaker-built Budweiser Beer Wagon wave to the crowd on the streets in downtown Howell as they make their way toward the Livingston County Courthouse in 2009. The horses have starred in numerous TV beer commercials, which our letter writer would like to ban.MLive file photo

When I spoke about the struggle of recovery from alcohol and other drugs in educational opportunities in the United States I dreamed of a day when persons working on their sobriety could watch television and sports events free from the intrusions from alcohol commercials. My request that listeners spread this request was met with responses that I was naive.

I have now had television in our little house here in Guatemala for four weeks. During my Spanish studies this morning I mentioned to my tutor that I had not seen alcohol commercials even on the shows originating in the United States. I checked again with my wife Jolie and she too confirmed she had seen no commercials for alcohol on Guatemala television.

I plan to write regarding cultural and family systems issues in a cross-cultural study in the future but could not resist sending a brief note about this amazing possibility.